CLOUGH WILL USE LOAN MARKET TO BOLSTER PROMOTION PUSH

NIGEL Clough is looking to use the emergency loan market to add to his squad as the Brewers push for back-to-back promotions.

The Brewers boss also says that the squad is good enough to challenge for promotion without Nasser El Khayati, after the wide man moved to QPR on transfer deadline day.

Clough has made enquiries about a couple of players, ready for the emergency loan window to open.

He says: “We are happy with the 14 or 15 we have got and as long as they stay fit we will be OK. We are a bit thin beyond that but it’s difficult when you are top of the league to find people who are better than what you have got and can go straight into the team.

“We can pack the squad out but you can only bring three subs on so if you have a solid 14 or 15 they are always going to come first.

“We might bring one in to give us help in certain positions as cover but generally speaking the ones we are looking at we want, if not to go into the team, then at least challenge the first XI.

“The reason we didn’t do anything in the standard loan market is that a lot of clubs don’t want to do them as they don’t get a recall. If you leave it a week or two you get the full 93 days until the end of the season and they get a recall after 28 days which is what must clubs want.”

Clough also believes his team can push on without El Khayati.

He says: “What we know is that an offer came in which was acceptable to the club. The player wanted to go and that’s crucial as well. If we had kept him against his will what frame of mind would he be in for the last 18 games?

“He’s a smashing lad, has done brilliantly for the team and goes with everyone’s best wishes.

“We have to get on without him and we think the squad is good enough, especially with Mason Bennett coming in. That was one of the reasons we wanted Mason, as a forward but also because his next best position is wide left. We have Mark Duffy and Lucas Askins so we have other options in the squad.”